Played for both: Five PL players that crossed Merseyside divide

There’s a treat for Merseysiders and neutrals everywhere on Saturday teatime, as Everton (21/10 with Coral to win) do derby day battle with Liverpool (13/10 favourites).

And this got our football experts thinking about which Premier League era players have crossed Stanley Park and turned out for both? There are just five men in modern times to have done this. Who are they? Read to discover who has worn both blue and red on Merseyside.

Nick Barmby
Ex-England winger Barmby took the bold step of directly switching from Everton (1996-2000) and Liverpool (2000-02) for £6m. This was the first time the Toffees had sold a player to their neighbours for 41 years.

Also enjoying spells at Spurs, Middlesbrough, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and hometown team Hull City, injuries during his second season at Anfield brought about a premature end to Barmby’s international career. He was part of the Reds side that won a treble (FA, League and UEFA Cups) in 2001, though.

David Burrows
Left back Burrows had a year with West Ham United sandwiched in between spells with Liverpool (1988-93) and Everton (1994-95). Ron Atkinson, who signed him for Coventry City in 1995, said he knew of “no better English left back”, which was high praise indeed for an uncapped player when Stuart Pearce was in his pomp for England.

Don Hutchison
Geordie native and former Scotland midfielder Hutchison scored a famous Wembley winner that sent the Tartan Army home in raptures, but also played under compatriots Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness at Anfield (1990-94) before later returning to Merseyside at Goodison (1998-2000).

Sander Westerveld
Dutch goalie Westerveld went from hero to zero at Anfield (1999-2001) in similar fashion to current Reds keeper Simon Mignolet. In his first campaign with Liverpool, he conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League, but Gerard Houllier lost confidence in him and he was also sent off on his Merseyside derby debut for fighting with Francis Jeffers:

When Everton experienced a custodian crisis in 2006, when Nigel Martyn, Iain Turner and Richard Wright were all injured, David Moyes showed no hesitation in bringing Westerveld in on emergency loan. He also played for Portsmouth in England’s top-flight.

Abel Xavier
How about this for a stat? Ex-Portugal full back Xavier is the only player in history to have played for both Merseyside teams in the derby in the same season!

Scoring in his Liverpool debut against Ipswich Town, Xavier went on to have brief spells at the likes of Galatasaray, Roma and Middlesbrough before finishing his career with MLS franchise LA Galaxy alongside David Beckham.